Visa for Tanzania: apply online or on arrival?
You need a visa for Tanzania: online via the official e-visa portal or on arrival at the airport. This article explains the process, processing time and fees, what applies for Zanzibar and Kenya, and how to spot the official site.
In short
To enter Tanzania you need a visa. There are two options: you can apply for it online before your trip via the official e-visa portal of the Tanzanian immigration authority, or you can have the visa issued on arrival at the airport. This second option is called a visa on arrival. On entry, your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your travel date. All information in this article is correct as of October 2026. Fees and rules can change and may vary depending on your nationality; the e-visa portal is the authoritative source, so check there before you apply. The German Federal Foreign Office is a further source.
Applying for an e-visa online
You apply for the e-visa (electronic visa) in the official portal of the immigration authority at eservices.immigration.go.tz. The address ends in .go.tz and is therefore an official government site.
The application involves 5 steps:
- Open the portal and start a new application.
- Enter your personal details and your travel dates.
- Upload the required documents.
- Pay the fee online.
- Check the status of your application in the portal until a decision has been made.
The most important document is your passport with at least 6 months of validity remaining. You can see which additional documents the portal requires directly in the application.
Allow sufficient lead time: the German Federal Foreign Office and the Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA) both state a processing time of at least 10 working days. Submit the application early, not shortly before you fly.
The fee: according to the German Federal Foreign Office, the visa on arrival costs 50 USD for German citizens. The portal shows the current fee for the online application; check it there before you pay.
A technical example shows why the lead time matters: on 4 March 2026, the central immigration system, including the e-visa portal, was temporarily unavailable due to a technical incident. During this period, the visa on arrival remained officially available.
Visa on arrival
As of October 2026, a visa on arrival is still generally possible. The fee is 50 USD for most nationalities and 100 USD for citizens of the USA and Ireland, according to the Embassy of Tanzania in Washington. You pay in cash with the exact amount in US dollar notes or by credit card. Depending on your nationality, a different fee or visa type can apply; the official e-visa portal lists the current fees.
The German Federal Foreign Office lists two restrictions: issuance is not guaranteed, and delays are possible. If you arrive with an e-visa, you have already completed this step. If you apply on arrival, you should have the exact amount for your nationality in cash with you and allow time at the counter.
E-visa or visa on arrival: which suits you best
E-visa in advance
- Apply from home, with no need to queue at an airport desk.
- At least 10 working days’ lead time according to the German Federal Foreign Office and the Austrian BMEIA.
- Fee paid online; check the current amount in the portal.
- Best if departure is still weeks away and you want to complete the formalities before the trip.
Visa on arrival
- No advance application needed.
- Fee 50 USD for most nationalities and 100 USD for citizens of the USA and Ireland, in cash with exact change or by credit card.
- According to the German Federal Foreign Office, issuance is not guaranteed, and you may have to wait.
- Best if departure is at short notice or the portal is down.
Zanzibar and Kenya
Zanzibar is part of Tanzania. The same visa applies as for the mainland; there is no separate Zanzibar visa. For entry into Zanzibar, the BMEIA additionally lists proof of a return flight ticket and sufficient funds. There is more on the compulsory insurance on Zanzibar in the entry section further down. How to get to the island after the safari is explained in the article on domestic flights to Zanzibar.
The situation is different for Kenya: the East Africa Tourist Visa is a joint visa for Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda. It is not valid for Tanzania; Tanzania is not a participating country. Anyone combining a safari in Tanzania with Kenya needs Tanzania’s own visa.
What else you need for entry besides the visa
The visa is not the only document at the border. There are two more requirements.
Firstly, mandatory insurance: Tanzania requires mandatory entry insurance; it has applied to Zanzibar since 1 October 2024 and, since October 2026, also to the mainland. What exactly applies and which policy covers your route is set out in the article on mandatory insurance for Tanzania and Zanzibar.
Secondly, yellow fever: proof of vaccination is only compulsory when entering from a yellow fever endemic area or after a transit of more than 12 hours there. If you enter directly from a country without a yellow fever risk, for example from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Spain or the US, you do not need proof. Which other vaccinations are advisable is set out in the article on vaccinations for Tanzania.
You submit the application yourself. If you have questions about how your safari runs or about planning your trip, the team in Arusha will be happy to help. Once the application is submitted, you plan the trip: on the Tanzania Safari page you will find trip ideas with duration and starting price, each one private with its own vehicle and its own guide.
Beware of fake visa websites
Only addresses ending in .go.tz are official sites of the Tanzanian state. The e-visa portal runs at eservices.immigration.go.tz.
Sites with similar-sounding names and other endings are not run by the authority. Check the address in your browser before entering personal data or paying. If in doubt, type eservices.immigration.go.tz directly into the browser rather than searching for it.
Frequently asked questions about the visa for Tanzania
Do I need a visa for Tanzania?
Yes. You apply for it online via the official e-visa portal or have it issued on arrival. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the travel date when you enter the country.
Can I get the visa for Tanzania on arrival?
Yes, as of October 2026 the visa on arrival is still possible. It costs 50 USD for most nationalities and 100 USD for citizens of the USA and Ireland, payable in cash in exact US dollar notes or by credit card; according to the German Federal Foreign Office, issuance is not guaranteed.
How long does the e-visa for Tanzania take?
The German Federal Foreign Office and the Austrian BMEIA state a processing time of at least 10 working days. Submit the application in good time before departure and check the status in the portal.
Is the visa for Tanzania also valid for Zanzibar?
Yes. The same Tanzanian visa applies to Zanzibar as to the mainland; there is no separate visa. For Zanzibar, the BMEIA additionally requires proof of a return ticket and sufficient funds.
Is the East Africa Tourist Visa also valid for Tanzania?
No. The joint visa for Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda does not cover Tanzania; Tanzania is not a participating country.
Do I need proof of yellow fever vaccination for Tanzania?
No, not if you enter directly from a country without a yellow fever risk, for example from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Spain or the US. Proof is required only if you enter from a yellow fever endemic area or after a transit of more than 12 hours there.
- German Federal Foreign Office: Tanzania travel and safety advice
- BMEIA Austria: Tanzania travel information
- FDFA Switzerland: Tanzania travel documents, visa and entry
- Embassy of Tanzania in Rome: Temporary Unavailability of the Immigration System
- Uganda Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control: East African Tourist Visa
- Tanzania Immigration Services Department: e-visa portal guidelines and fees
